Folding bale case extension for balers



March 1954 M. E. M CLELLAN ET AL FOLDING BALE CASE EXTENSION FOR BALERS Filed March 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m/ Z a 1 4 N3... 8 M 14mm fl 52%;; E m MM 5 M 5 E M W M fi 0M .4 Q 4 A J 4 w m a w m 6 Z 9 m Av m8 MW%.I. M V IN, 1 flu o u AV 0 m w I m M wm m @T/ 6 z m M M March 1954 M. E. MCCLELLAN ET AL FOLDING BALE CASE EXTENSION FOR BALERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1951 JNVENTORS' MEI/Tie WF/Vann Patented Mar. 23, 1954 aerator FOLDING BALE CASE EXTENSION roe BALER Marcus E. McClellan and Arnold B. Skromme, Ottumwa, William F. Manns, Albia, and Samuel F. Bright, Ottumwa, Iowa, assignors to Deere Manufacturing 00., Dubuque, Iowa, at corporation of Iowa Application March 29, 1951, Serial No. 218,194

Claims. 1

4 This invention relates to an agricultural baler of the type used for baling hay, straw and other material. More particularly, the invention relates to a bale case extension for such baler, the extension being arranged so that it may be swung from a first position in alinemen't with the baler 0 a second position in folded relationship to the aler.

The invention finds its greatest utility in connection with balers of the so-called cross-mounted type. In a baler of this character, the baler includes a mobile frame adapted to be drawn forwardly over a field by a tractor or other draft source. The baler has means for picking up windrowsof hay or straw and for feeding this material ..to a baling chamber and bale case that lie transversely to the line of travel. In the conventional'baler, thebale case is supplemented by a continuation in the form of a bale case exten sion and, as the bales are formed and tied, they are successively discharged outwardly through the open end of the bale case extension to fall upon the ground or to be received by appropriate balehandling means. Because of the addition of the bale case extension, the over-all width of the baler is materially increased and it is difficult, when transporting the baler on roads or highways, to accommodate the width of the baler to surrounding objects designed to provide clearance for conventional vehicles. This problem has heretofore been solved by complete removal of the bale case extension. This, obviously, is hardly a solution when it is considered that the bale case extension is quite heavy, rendering it almost impossible for one man to remove it and replace it.

According to the present invention, the bale case extension is connected to the open or discharge end of the bale case by means including a hinge and releasable latch element, whereby the bale case extension may be swung between a first position in which the-extension forms a continuation of the bale case and a second position in which the bale-case extension is folded relative to the bale case. It is a further object to pro vide hinge and latch elements that may be readily incorporated into existing constructions so that change-over from conventional designs may be easily effected by the user. It is a further object to provide a construction that is easy to produce and inexpensive from the standpoint of the purchaser. At the same time, the design is of simple construction and, being unlikely to present any operating difficulties, should have relatively long The foregoing and other iinportant objects and.

desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the bale case extension in its operating position as a continuation of the bale case;

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the bale case extension swung rearwardly;

Figure 3 is a rear view, on an enlarged scale, of the bale case extension, illustrating the hinge connection thereof to the bale case;

Figure 4 is a front view of the bale case extension shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a schematic view, on a reduced scale, showing the relationship of a cross-mounted baler to a tractor, the bale case extension being shown in its folded position;

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse View taken substantially on the line fi6 of Figure 5;

Figure, '7 is a perspective view of one of the mounting brackets including latch means for retaining the bale case in its operating position;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-3 of Figure 3; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 4.

Reference will be had first to Figure 5 for an over-all picture of the baler. In this figure, the baler is shown as comprising a main frame I0 carried on a pair of wheels l2 and M for forward travel over the ground by means of a forwardly extending draft tongue I 6 adapted to be connected to drawbar structure I 8 of any suitable source of draft power, here shown as a typical agricultural tractor 20 having rightand lefthand rear wheels 22 and 24..

The baler includes a bale case 26 disposed transverse to the line of travel and having an outer or open end 28. Ahead of the bale case is a pick-up mechanism 30 which, as is conventional, operates to pick up windrowed hay or straw for the purpose of ultimately feeding this material rearwardly and into the interior or chamber of the bale case 26. In the relationship shown, the baler is in transport position to trail behind the tractor 20. In this position, the draft tongue It is braced relative to the main frame It by a releasable brace 32. In-operating position, the brace 32 is shortened, with the result that the baler will be sufficiently offset to the righ of the tractor so that the pick-up 30 operates along a windrow to the right ofthe right-hand tractor rearwheel fl.

The bale case is made up of front and rear on? walls 34 and 36 and top and bottom walls 38 and 40. These walls are arranged to give the bale case 26 a generally rectangular shape (Figures 2 and 6), and the outer terminal edges of these walls define the bale case opening 28. Just in wardly' of the outer opening 23, the bale, case is provided with a reenforcing collar 42. This collar is a typical part of the particular baler illustrated but forms no specific part of the pres ent invention.

The bale case extension is designated generally by the numeral 44. This component likewise has a rectangular shape, given toit bytop and bottom walls as and 48 and front and rear walls 50 and 52. It will be noted (Figure'fil' that. the,

walls 50 and 52 are not perfect walls in the sense that the expression is commonly understood, because each wall is divided along amid line, as at 54, 55, so that the front, wall .has

upper and lower halves M and b and the rear Wall has upper and lower halves 52a and 52b; hence; the top and bottom wall's tt and t's'may becontrolled by a pair'of tension springs 53 and -3 These springs and the relatively movable top and bottom walls 66 and 43 represent a typical form of tensioning means for controlling the size and density of bales passed through thebale case extension. The details of this mechanism form no part of'the present invention and the brief description thereof is merely for thepurposes of completing the disclosure of the particular structure illustrated.

The outermostterminal edges of the walls 45, 48956 and 52 define an outer or bale-discharge opening 62 for the bale case extension. 'These Walls also-define an inner opening 64 which, when the bale case extension is in its first position as shown in Figure 1', is coincident with theouter opening 28 of the bale case 261' Therefore, the bale -case" extension 44 is a'continuation of the bale case 261 The innerterminal edge of" the rear wall of the bale case extension is connected to or supported by ithe rear wall outer edge of' the bale case 28 by hinge means-designated generally by' the numeral 5%. This means includes a vertical hinge on pivot pin 68 carried by upper and lower hinge sleeves l0 and 12' rigid on an angle member '13 secured' to thelower half 52b of the rear wall 52; Inthis respect, theexpression wall should be construed to include the present structure or its-equivalenu'for it will be obvious that the walls-50 and 52' may be otherwise-constructed and/may'evenv be spaced apart frame 'membersas: is? the. case in some balers. Because of the nature of the wall sections in the present'case, the upper and lower sections or halves 52i'ayand 52 h of the rear wall are connected by a diagonal brace" 1-4, the upper connection of which at- 16 provides apivot for'theupper section ofthe bale case'extension under control of the springs-"58 andvelll A rhomboid-shaped plate H is pivoted atlfi'to the angle 13 and is rigidly secured as by wel'dingto the upper half Mat-of the rear wall;

The hinge means Bi'further includesupper and. lower brackets l8 and 812 secured respectively to the bale case 26 at the-outer or terminal edge portion of' the rear wall. Specifically, these brackets 18 and Marc secured to rear portions of the top and bottom walls 38 and 40. These brackets" are 'apertured to receive upper and lower ends of the hinge or pivot pin (it; the pin being retained by cotters 82' and 84."

The bale-Case extension is. maintained in :its first or: operating position (Figure U by ;vreleasable retaining means designated generally by the numeral 86. The latch means includes upper and lower latch elements 88 and 90 secured respectively to upper and lower sections of the front wall 5%, and upper and lowerucooperatingi latch elements 92" and 9 5 positioned on a bracket 96 for cooperation respectively withthe latch elements and 90. The upper half 50a of the front wall is pivoted to the bracket 96 coaxially with the pivot'lfironx'the-angle 13, but this pivot is concealed by the member 88. The bracket is shown in Figure 7 as comprising an elongated member having :at its 'upper and lower ends inwardly turned apertured cars 98 and I00. The bracket 95. lies. alongtthe, terminal edge of the front wall 3'4 ofthe-bale 08.88226 and the apertured ears 98 and H30 respectively overlie proximate portions of the 'upper'an'd lower walls 38 and 40 of the baleucaseifi. The bracket is rigidly attached to the bale case in any suitable manner.

The, bracket further includes, as part ,oiithe upper latch element; 92, a pair of apertured .ears

l921and I64 and, as" part of the lower latchfelement 94, a pair of apertured ears- IDS-andlllfl; Each of the lower ears-I M and 108 is turnedd'own toprovide arampyas at H!) forthe' ear. I04 and as at H2 for the ear H381 Thus-,wl'ren the bale case'extension' is swung from the position" of Fig? ure 2 to that of Figure 1, the ramps receivev and guide the bale case extension latchelements 88 and 9.5 into a position in which "releasable means in'the form of a pair-of retaining pins 1M and I l 5 may be dropped respectivelylthrough the pair or ears"ld2--Hi4 and HIE-I08. The upperlatch 38 on the bale case extension hasalocking ber'in the form of a pin'l I8',behind-which"the lockingpin H4 passes. The lower -bale case-exitension latch element is provided witha similar locking memberor'pin I20. V

The particular" latching"m'eansillustrated is adapted to the particular bale case extension-by the utilization of 'a'diagon'al brace l22"-'thatis connected at 12d to the lowersection of the front wall 56 and that has an upper portion' I 26 aper tured to receive the upper retaining pin' I'M-when the balecase extension is in its operating position'. The brace I22 thus servesthesame func tionas the brace 14.

A further featureof the invention resides in means for receiving and supporting the balecase extension when it is swung-to its folded posi tion as shown in Figures 5 and 6t This-means. here takes the form of'a ramp member IZ B'i'igid-T 1y afli'xed to the rear portion of the'bale "case-26 at a'point spaced inwardly -fromthe outer end" 28 thereof within the length"of'the-balmas extension 44. The downturned or rearwardend of theramp memberl28 th'us receives the bale case extension M -when the 'extension'is swung rearwardly; and" the upper flat part of the-ramp member serves to support the balecaseextension againstvertical displacement, thus relieving the load on the hinge means 66, I

Astill further feature of the invention' resides in the-releasable'means for retaining the bald case extension in its folded position:- This means is best shown inFigures 5 and 6- as-comprisingia hook pivotally'connected'at' I 32' tothe ba-le case 26 at a rear portion thereof substantially directly-above the ramp member I233 The outermost end portion of the upper section of the rear wall 52 of the bale case extension has thereon an; apertured ear 134 into which the hook it'll-enagages when the bale case extension M is folde'di I Will be seen from the. foregoing description that; the bale case extension i conveniently mounted for swinging between the two positions indicated. In both positions, the bale case extension is fully supported by the bale case and the user is relieved from the burden of dismantling the bale case extension'for removing it from the bale case. Instead, all that he has to do involves removal of the retaining pins I I4 and l l6 so that the bale case extension can be swung to the position of Figures 5 and 6, in which position it is releasably retained by the means I30 until such time as it is desired to move it again to its operating position as shown in Figure 1. The particular design illustrated may be readily adapted to existing balers or bale case extensions modified in accordance with the present disclosure may be provided as attachments for existing balers.

Various other desirable features of the invention not specifically enumerated herein will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as likewise will numerous modifications and alterations in the preferred form of the invention illustrated, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For a mobile baler having a bale case disposed transversely to the line of travel, wherein the bale case includes front and rear and top and 3 bottom walls arranged in generally rectangular form and having outer terminal edge defining an outer open end for the bale case; a bale case extension having front and rear and top and bottom walls arranged in generally rectangular form substantially coincident with the form of the bale case, said bale case extension walls having inner terminal edges defining an inner open end for the bale case extension proximate to and alineable with the open end of the bale case when the bale case extension is positioned as a continuation of the bale case; a hinge member on an upright axis carried by the bale case extension rear Wall at its inner terminal edge; upper and lower hinge brackets pivoted on the hinge member and having provision for affixation respectively to the top and bottom walls of the bale case to carry the bale case extension for swinging rearwardly about said upright axis to a folded position alongside the bale case rear wall and inwardly of the open end of the bale case; a first pair of vertically spaced latch elements carried by the bale case extension front wall at the inner terminal edge thereof; a second pair of latch elements detachably connected respectively to the latch elements of said first pair and having provision for affixiation to the bale case at its outer open end; and at least one of the latch elements of the first pair and the cooperating one of the latch elements of the second pair having interengageable guide portions to facilitate repositioning of the bale case extension as it is swung from its folded position to its alined position as a continuation of the bale case.

2. For a mobile baler having a bale case disposed transversely to the line of travel, wherein the bale case includes front and rear and top and bottom walls arranged in generally rectangular form and having outer terminal edges defining an outer open end for the bale case; a bale case extension having front and rear and top and bottom walls arranged in generally rectangularrform substantially coincident with the form of the bale case, said bale case extension Walls having inner terminal edges defining an inner open end for the bale case extension proximate to and alineable with the open end of the.

edge; upper and lower hinge brackets pivoted on the hinge member and having provision for affixation respectively to the top and bottom walls of the bale case to carry the bale case extension for swinging rearwardly about said upright axis to a folded position alongside the bale case rear wall and inwardly of the open end of the bale case; a first pair of vertically spaced latch elements carried by the bale case extension front wall at the inner terminal edge thereof, a second pair of latch elements detachably connected respectively to the latch elements of said first pair and having provision for affixation to the bale case at its outer open end; and ramp means having provision for mounting on the rear wall of the bale case spaced inwardly from the open end thereof to receive and guide the bale case extension into its folded position.

3. For a mobile baler having a bale case disposed transversely to the line of travel, wherein the bale case includes front and rear and top and bottom walls arranged in generally rectangular form and having outer terminal edges defining an outer open end of the bale case; a bale case extension having front and rear and top and bottom walls arranged in generallyrectangular form substantially coincident with the form of the bale case, said bale case extension walls having inner terminal edges defining an inner open end for the bale case extension proximate to and alineable with the open end of the bale case when the bale case extension is positioned as a continuation of the bale case; a hinge member on an upright axis carried by the bale case extension rear Wall at its inner terminal edge; upper and lower hinge brackets pivoted on the hinge member and having provision for aflixation respectively to the top and bottom walls of the bale case to carry the bale case extension for swinging rearwardly about said upright axis to a folded position alongside the bale case rear wall and inwardly of the open end of the bale case; a first pair of vertically spaced latch elements carried by the bale case extension front wall at the inner terminal edge thereof; a second pair of latch elements detachably connected respectively to the latch elements of said first pair and having provision for affixation to the bale case at its outer open end; and releasable means having provision for connection between the bale case extension and the bale case to hold the bale case temporarily in its folded position.

4. A bracket for a bale case to support an extension of the bale case thereon, said bracket comprising a vertical member having upper and lower ends extending outwardly in the same direction and respectively forming upper and lower legs of a U member of which the vertical member is the bight, the legs of the U member respectively having upper and lower attaching means coplanar therewith and extending from said vertical member in a direction opposite to that of said ends, one of said attaching means having a ramp at the end thereof extending outwardly from one edge of the vertical member and downwardly and below said lower end.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, including a pair of vertically spaced elements fixed to and projecting from the vertical member in the same direntionias the upper-2 nd lower attaching means} said iielements being located "between" said upper and lower attaching means, unexelement being spacedabelow the upper attaching means and the other: element being spaced above :the lower at tacking means, an'dpne element having aramp fiheneun si'milarirtocthe ramp on the aforesaid one attaching means.

MARCUS'LE." MCCLELLANT.

ARNOLD. B. SKROMMEL WILLIAM E. MANNS.

BRIGHT;

References mum-mine fllev of "this patemz' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date 1,636,835 Rasp July; 26; 192% 2,484,890 Hill m.. Oct. .18; 41949 

